Chapter 23 Summary: A Sudden Reckoning with the Past
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
After a sleepless night, Bodie receives a frantic FaceTime from Jerome. He confesses he has been “canceled” on Twitter because of a performance artist named Jasmine Wilde. Fifteen years ago, when Jerome was 36 and she was 21, they dated casually while she worked as a gallery assistant. Jasmine now presents the relationship as predatory, claiming Jerome used his status as a successful artist to groom her. Jerome insists it was consensual, but Bodie is unsettled by gaps in his story. Searching Twitter, she finds her own account tagged in accusations. Jerome tries to shield her by posting a reply. The conversation forces Bodie to re-examine her memories of Jerome and, by extension, of Omar and of high school—a painful pattern of revising past views.
Key Events
- Bodie receives a 7 a.m. text from Jerome about Leo’s anxiety medicine, then a FaceTime call.
- Jerome reveals he has been “canceled” due to a performance piece by Jasmine Wilde.
- Jasmine accuses Jerome of a predatory relationship when she was 21 and he was 36, 15 years ago.
- Bodie presses for details; Jerome admits to “amorous emails” and previous heavy drinking.
- Bodie searches Twitter and finds her own handle tagged, demanding she address the allegations.
- Jerome posts a public reply asking people to leave Bodie out of it.
- Bodie mentally compares this revelation to her earlier reassessment of Omar and of high school acquaintances.
Character Development
- Bodie Kane: Her trust in Jerome erodes. She begins to pull away not just from the current Jerome but from the earlier version she married, echoing the painful way she had to recast memories of Omar. She becomes more aware of her own ignorance.
- Jerome Wager: Initially defensive and laughing nervously, he admits to past drinking and an “on and off” relationship. He seeks Bodie’s validation but also tries to protect her publicly. His credibility falters when he cannot explain the accusations fully.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Cancel Culture and Power Dynamics: The chapter explores how a relationship that seemed consensual at the time can be reframed as exploitative when age, career status, and institutional power are considered.
- Revision of Memory: Bodie’s vision “changes” like putting on glasses for the first time. The motif of seeing the “ugly backsides” of memories recurs, linking this moment to earlier chapters about Omar and high school.
- Performance vs. Truth: Jasmine’s art—a park bench monologue—blurs the line between accusation and performance, prompting questions about how stories are told and believed.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is a turning point for Bodie’s personal life, forcing her to confront the same kind of moral ambiguity she has been investigating in Thalia’s death. It parallels the central mystery: just as she re-examines high school events, she now must re-evaluate her marriage. The accusation against Jerome also reflects broader cultural conversations about accountability, consent, and the limits of institutional power.
Study Questions and Answers
1. How does the author use the comparison to Forrest Gump to develop character?
Bodie’s offhand comment about Jasmine’s performance echoing Forrest Gump reveals her attempt to deflect discomfort with humor. Jerome’s desperate laughter shows he is grasping for normalcy, but Bodie’s joke also highlights the absurdity they both feel in a situation that has no clear script.
2. What does Bodie mean when she says her vision is “changing like the first time I put on glasses”?
She realizes she was seeing her own history unclearly. Memories of Jerome, Omar, and high school acquaintances now reveal hidden facets she had never noticed. The metaphor underscores the novel’s theme that truth often requires a deliberate shift in perspective.
3. Why does Jerome post a public reply asking people to leave Bodie out of it?
He wants to shield her from the controversy and maintain a chivalrous image. However, Bodie interprets the gesture as “classy,” yet it also allows him to control the narrative. The reply may be genuine care, but it also reinforces his position as protector, a role that echoes the power dynamics he is accused of.